Share this:

A frustrating Thursday afternoon for the Boston Red Sox got a whole lot worse in the final inning.

David Ortiz was forced to exit the game with two outs in the top of the ninth after checking his swing on a pitch from Toronto Blue Jays reliever Rob Rasmussen. Jonny Gomes entered mid-at-bat and flied out to left field to close out an 8-0 loss for the Red Sox.

Red Sox manager John Farrell could not offer much insight on Ortiz’s injury when he spoke with reporters immediately after the game, but he did confirm the designated hitter tweaked something in the middle of his back.

“In that final check-swing, (Ortiz) felt some spasm in the upper-mid back,” Farrell said. “We’re still examining him right now, so right now it’s day to day.”

“On my last at-bat, I kind of felt a little pop or something in my upper back,” Ortiz said, via ESPN.com. “I felt a little bit of discomfort (Thursday), but I was fine (until) I made a rough move on that pitch — tried to go and stopped — and it pulled me a little more.

“I think it’s a spasm. Hopefully, it’s nothing serious.”

Ortiz has played in 99 of the Red Sox’s 102 games this season, posting a .251 batting average with 24 home runs and 72 RBIs.

Boston managed just one hit in the loss to Toronto, its third defeat in as many games.